Beauty of Becoming….Lenten Thanks
Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee may have looked something like this on the day Peter began his journey of “becoming” with Jesus. (Ron captured this photo when we stayed near the Sea of Galilee while in Israel.)
Almost every day, my devotional time includes an ancient spiritual practice known as Lectio Divina, which in Latin means “Divine Reading.” Lectio Divina is not studying God’s word for information or even inspiration but is meant to lead to communion with God as the human spirit allows the Divine Spirit to speak through the words of God’s Word.
This practice generally focuses on a short passage, encouraging the reader to read slowly, pondering and exploring thoughts, or even a single word. I have found this method of approaching scripture to be very life giving. I always read the passage in at least two different Bible versions, generally using both the New King James as well as The Message.
One morning during this season of Lent, the passage of Lectio was Mark 1:16-20, and as I read in the NKJV, the word “become” jumped out of the text and into my thoughts.
The context for this word is at the very beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry when he called his disciples. The first two men he called were fishermen brothers, Simon and Andrew. (Later, Jesus re-named Simon Cephas—or Peter, which means ‘rock.’) Verse 17 says: Then Jesus said to them, “Come after Me, and I will make you ‘become’ fishers of men.”
Peter is one of my favorite Bible characters. Like me, I think Peter must have been what is known as a “verbal processor.” We tend to think out loud, often speaking before we process our words. The term ‘putting your foot in your mouth’ probably relates to verbal processors. Peter’s words often got him in trouble—even causing Jesus to ‘rebuke’ him a time or two.
Despite this, Jesus recognized in Peter his deeper purpose—his God design and the good work God had—before creation—chosen Peter to do. (See Ephesians 2:10) In less than four years from the time of Jesus’ initial calling along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Peter was going to become the earliest leader of the Christian Church.
Peter died a martyr’s death after living to an old age. Although much is written in the New Testament about Peter—especially in the book of Acts—he wasn’t the author of many books. The two letters he wrote (First and Second Epistles of Peter) in the latter days of his life, illustrate the depth of Peter’s maturity.
Peter’s journey is one that will probably encourage each of us who forget that when we choose to accept the invitation to follow Jesus, we begin a journey of ‘becoming.’
Prayer:
God Who Gives Life,
Thank You that I will not stay the same.
Thank You that you know the woman I will become.
Thank You for looking beyond the missteps I make in the process of
The beauty of becoming.
Amen
